20
July 2010
The laid back lifestyle of the Keys didn't allow for breakfast before
7, so we tried to have things ready-er before; still we were a bit late
getting underway.
The drive up US 1 wasn't quite as miserable as down, we were fresher
and those on the road had places to go, for the most part. Still, it
was a relief to get back on the Turnpike (and I didn't think you'd ever
hear me say that).
But we got off almost right away, to head over to the Biscayne
National Park for a Florida stamp. Lots of folks windsurfing there, and
another enthusiastic volunteer trying to ply us with brochures and
entice us with lectures. It was already hot and humid, so we were
having none of it; back on the bikes and head north.
At about 160 miles on that tank of gas, Boyd pulls up alongside and
points at his tank. Ok, where's the next service plaza? (I'm too cheap
to pull off the toll road, 'cause you pay to get off, and then have to
still pay at the next toll plaza--save under a buck, for stress.) I ask
at the next toll plaza, but the attendant has no idea. Nor the next;
after that I quit asking. Finally, after more than 200 miles, one
looms. (It's not bad enough that I push my own gas stops, now I'm
pushing Boyd's. [He needs to know how far he can go after his light
comes on, but so far, he's resisting. We know 'at least 30 miles.'])
A couple more rest stops (required in this heat/humidity) and we're
back at the Titusville exit we left from yesterday morning--we might
have scored the Canaveral National Seashore stamp when we were stopped
here, or perhaps yesterday morning, but when we got to the visitor
center the hours were 0900-1630: we would have been too late in the
afternoon, and wouldn't have waited that long in the morning, so it
actually didn't matter.
We'd planned on stopping for the night farther north, but when a Super
8 came into range on the gps in Daytona Beach just before 1700, enough
was enough. No grocery stores within walking distance, so once we'd
unpacked we headed back down one exit and found a Publix four miles in.
We fought with the wireless for quite a while before finding the right
combination of access points and room position that gave a reliable
internet connection--it's interesting how important that's become. No
wonder it takes three hours to get going in the morning.
States: Florida
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